Raila warns police against harming public ahead of anti-IEBC protests
Nasa leader Raila Odinga addresses a campaign rally in Mumias on October 1, 2017. PHOTO | ISAAC WALE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In Busia County, Mr Odinga asked the electorate to continue striving to “liberate the country from hostage under the Jubilee government”.
- Mr Odinga condemned an incident at the University of Nairobi last week, when police officers beat up students who demonstrated to push for the release of Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili.
- Mr Mudavadi said Jubilee is plotting to steal the repeat poll, adding that this explains why its leaders are criss-crossing the country to woo political rejects.
Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga has warned the police against being used by the Jubilee government to harm Kenyans ahead of the planned countrywide demonstrations over the electoral agency set for Monday.
Mr Odinga, who was countering the Jubilee Party’s campaigns in western Kenya, urged the residents not to fall for the “empty” tokens of development.
In Busia County, where he led the National Super Alliance brigade in consolidating its vote before the October 26 repeat presidential election, Mr Odinga asked the electorate to continue striving to “liberate the country from hostage under the Jubilee government”.
He was accompanied by Nasa co-principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula.
He condemned an incident at the University of Nairobi last week, when police officers beat up students who demonstrated to push for the release of Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, popularly known as Babu Owino.
ARRESTED
Mr Ongili, a former student leader at the university, had been arrested for allegedly making abusive remarks at a public rally.
“I want to tell (President) Uhuru (Kenyatta), the blood of our people is in your hands. We demand a stop to police brutality. Freedom to demonstrate, picket and protest is provided for by our Constitution.
“Police are civil servants and must protect all Kenyans when executing their duty of maintaining law and order. Their livelihoods depend on taxpayers,” said Mr Odinga.
The Nasa leader asked residents to march to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices in Busia and demand the ejection of the agency’s CEO Ezra Chiloba and other commissioners, whom he accused of colluding with Jubilee to steal his win during the August 8 General Election. He once again opposed Jubilee’s proposed changes to the laws governing elections, especially the one that would see the IEBC vice-chairperson being allowed to do the job of the chairman if he is away or fails to perform his work.
AMEND CONSTITUTION
“The electoral law amendments they want to pass in Parliament are against the Constitution. You have the responsibility to defend the Constitution by all means.
“If the government tries to overturn the Constitution, the people of Kenya have a right to turn against that leadership,” said Mr Odinga at a charged crowd that had given him a warm welcome.
Mr Odinga, who was hosted by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong alongside his Siaya and Kakamega counterparts Cornel Rasanga and Wycliffe Oparanya, respectively, regretted that Jubilee’s hand in the “stolen” August 8 election had delayed the implementation of Nasa promises.
“We were due to launch free secondary education in September but the repeat polls have delayed it,” he said.
Mr Mudavadi said Jubilee is plotting to steal the repeat poll, adding that this explains why its leaders are criss-crossing the country to woo political rejects.
In Kakamega, Mr Odinga urged the Luhya not to be “fooled” by promises, saying the Jubilee administration had run down the economy.
He added that time had come for voters to send President Kenyatta packing in the fresh election.
FRESH CONTEST
He maintained that Nasa would only be ready for the poll after the IEBC agrees to meet the opposition’s demands.
“President Kenyatta should know I do not fear him and I’m prepared to face him in the fresh presidential contest if the electoral agency acts on our demands to ensure the poll will be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner,” said Mr Odinga.
Mr Wetang’ula, who is also the Bungoma senator, said: “Jubilee can bulldoze the amendments to the electoral laws to suit their scheme to rig the October 26 presidential poll but let them know that the opposition will mobilise its supporters and force them to listen to our demands through protests.”
Nasa’s visit to Busia, its stronghold, comes two days after President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto toured the border county and other parts of western Kenya as the scramble for votes continues.
Reported by Benson Amadala, Shaban Makokha, Gaetano Pessa and Victor Rabala
